Door hinge and check.



- E. R. GRAY.

DOOR HINGE AND CHECK.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26, 1915.

1,236,289. PatentedAug. 7,1917.

Fi 19 Z1 FlQ.

DOOR HINGE AND CHECK.

Application filed November 26, 1915.

To all whomz't may concern:

Be it known that LEDWARD It. GRAY, a citizen of the United States,residing-at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Door Hinges and Checks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to door hinges and checks, the object of the invention being to provide a hinge combining as part thereof means for checking and cushioning the opening and closing movements of the door, to prevent the same from slamming.

A further object of the invention is to provide a door check construction of the character defined which will operate pneumatically, and which is simple of construction, efficient and reliable in action, and comparatively inexpensive of production.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a front elevation showing the application of the invention to parts of a door and door frame.

Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the cylinder of the hinge in vertical section and the upper end of the partition broken away.

Figs. 3 and 4 are horizontal transverse sections on the line 33 of Fig. 2, showing the positions assumed by the parts of the hinge when the door is respectively in its closed and open positions.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the hinge.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail on line 66 of Fig. 2.

In carrying my invention into practice, I provide a hinge comprising two members 1 and 2, the member 1 being adapted for attachment to the door 3 and the member 2 being adapted for attachment to a jamb of the door frame 4;. Each of these hinge members includes a leaf or plate 5 having perforations 6 therein for the passage of suitable fastenings 7 to secure the same to the door and door frame, respectively.

Formed integral with the hinge member 2 is a cylinder or casing 8 in which is arranged a longitudinally extending radial partition 9, said partition being sector-shaped and having in line with the axis of the cylinder or casing a bead or rounded portion 10. Arranged within the cylinder is a movable partition or rotary piston member 11, which Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. '7, 1917.

Serial No. 63.662.

is also sector-shaped and provided at its reduced portion with a groove or recess 12 to turn upon the bead 10.

At its upper end the rotary piston member 11 is provided with a journal 18 and an angular axial spindle 141, the journal fitting rotatably within a bearing opening 15 in a disk or head 16 threaded into and closing the top of the cylinder or casing 8. The casing or cylinder is closed at its lower end by a similar disk or head 17 provided with an outwardly extending journal 18. The hinge member 1 is provided at its upper and lower ends with arms 19 and 20, the arm 19 being provided with an angular opening 21 which receives and engages the spindle 1 1, while the lower arm 20 is formed with a bearing opening 22 which receives the journal 18. By this construction the hinge member 1 is journaled at its base upon the casing or cylinder and is connected at its upper portion positively to the rotary piston or partition, whereby said piston or partition is adapted to be swung by the movements of the door.

It will be observed that the rotary piston forms with the fixed partition 9 chambers or compartments 23 and 24 on opposite sides of said partition, the arrangement of the rotary piston being such that when the door is half way open the chambers are of like dimensions, while when the door is closed the piston restricts the chamber 23 and to the same extent enlarges the chamber 24; whereas when the door is wide open the piston in like manner constricts the chamber 2 1 and enlarges the chamber 23.

The compartments 23 and 24 form air chambers constituting elements of a pneumatic check, which is completed by the use of suitable valved inlets and outlets. As shown in the present instance, the top of the chamber 23 is provided with a port controlled by an inwardly opening check valve 25, preferably of the spring controlled type, and with an air vent 26 controlled by a needle valve 27, while the bottom of the chamber 24 is provided with a port controlled by an inwardly opening check valve 25 and a vent 26 controlled by a needle valve 27'.

When the parts of the hinge are in normal position, as when the door is closed, it will be observed that the chamber 24 is of largest dimensions and contains a supply of air capable of being compressed, while the chamber 23 which is relatively constricted contains a small quantity of air. \Vhen the door is opened, it will be evident that the rotary piston 11 will be moved in adirection to enlarge the chamber 23 and constrict the chamber 24. As a result the air contained in the chamber 24-. will be compressed and discharged gradually through the needle valve controlled vent 26, thus cushioning the opening movement of the door. At the same time the aforesaid movement of the rotary piston will forma partial vacuum in the chamber 23, causing air to rush in through both the check valve 25 and the vent 26, while the air in the chamber Q l slowly exhausts through the vent 26 controlled by the needle valve 27, thus checking and cushioning the opening movement of the door. When the door is again closed, the rotary piston 11 in moving back to normal position will compress the air in the chamber 23 which will discharge slowlythrough the vent 26 controlled by the valve 27, and will at the same time form a partial vacuum in the chamber 24;, thus drawing in air through the check valve 25 and passage 26 controlled by the needle valve 27, furnishing a supply of air in the chamber 24 for a subsequent cushioning action when the door is again opened.

It'will thus be seen that my invention pro vides a'door hinge which at the same time serves as a pneumatic check to cushion the door on both its opening and closing movement and prevent it from slamming, whereby the use of checks and stops auxiliary to the ordinary door mounting will be avoided and a simple and eilicient type of cushioning check furnished. It will also be evident that the construction is such as to adapt the door to be opened and closed with freedom, and to quickly close without slamming or coming in contact with the jamb with objectionable force.

1. In a combined door hinge and check,

the combination with one hinge member having a cylinder integral therewith, heads at the upper and lower ends of said cylinder, and a fixed radial partition within the cylinder; of a second hinge member, a rotary piston of sector shape carried thereby and axially mounted within the cylinder to form with said partition air chambers on opposite sides thereof, each of said heads being provided with a port "and a vent, means for adjustably controlling the vent, an outwardly closing check valve in each port, a journal depending from the lower head, a journal rising from the piston through and journ'aled in an opening in the upper head, and arms carried by the secondnamed hinge member and mounted respectively loosely on the lower journal and fast on the upper, as described.

A combined door hinge and check com prising one hinge member having a cylinder integral therewith heads closing the upper and lower ends of said cylinder, a fixed radial partition within the cylinder, a rotary piston carried by the other hinge member and axially mounted within the said cylinder to form with said partition air chambers on opposite sides thereoheach of said heads being provided with a port and a vent and a needle valve controlling the vent, a spring actuated outwardly closing check valve controlling the port, a journal depending from the bottom head, a journal rising from the axis of the piston through and journaled inan opening in the top head, and made angular above the same, and arms carried by the second-named hinge member and respectively engaging said journal and angular projection.

In testimony whereof I a'lfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PAUL O. NUTT, CHAS. G. Wmvrz.

'Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. i 

